Bishops of England and Wales welcome defeat of assisted suicide bill

The Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales has welcomed the defeat of assisted suicide legislation in Parliament. The bill was defeated by 286 votes to 270. Archbishop John Sherrington of Liverpool, the conference's lead bishop for life issues, publicly thanked both the members of Parliament who voted against the bill and the many people who spoke out during the debate.

Those who opposed the bill included doctors, lawyers, disability groups and faith communities, as well as people with no religious affiliation. Sherrington noted how broad that response had been. He said: "I would like to express my gratitude to those MPs who voted against the bill and to the many people from across society who made their voices heard." He also thanked the many people who prayed in the weeks before the vote.

The bishops' conference described the outcome as a victory for those who defend the dignity and sanctity of every human life. The bishops restated their support for protecting the most vulnerable and called for continued reflection on the intrinsic value of life. They said the vote showed that this commitment has real backing across wide sections of British society.